Great Weekend

I don't know if I should preface this with it was a great weekend that ended on two sour notes or be glass half full and say that despite the two sour notes, it was a great weekend. It was the beginning of Spring Break for my kids but it didn't even phase me because I had big plans on Friday. I got to hang out with some friends that I don't get to see very often. D.W. and J.B. thanks for letting me barge again. I can't remember the last time that I went to Olive Garden and that is a shame because I had the most delicious dinner...better than my favorite at Ruby Tuesday's. In case you are wondering, it was Parmesan Crusted Tilapia and it was probably all of my WW points but I don't care. It was delicious and along with great conversation and limited jokes about John Carter, it was worth every calorie consumed. After dinner we went and saw 21 Jump Street. I admit, I only wanted to see it because Channing Tatum is on my "five free" list but I laughed the whole time. I also cringed some of the time and will have to resist the urge to lock my children in their rooms until they are in college because of how teens were portrayed. I think it is one of those movies that if you go into it with high expectations, you'll be disappointed but go in with low and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Taylor Kitsch is still my number 1 but Channing Tatum moved up to number 2.

Saturday, Leo and I went to dinner with some friends. We went to Rock Bottom and again, the food was delicious. At that point, it was safe to say that I fell off the Weight Watchers' wagon. Tuscan Shrimp Pasta and two margaritas later, I was ready to go hear an 80's cover band in St. Charles that another couple we are friends with invited us to go see. It was a very fun way to spend an evening. The band was really good and we sang until I lost my voice, and danced until my knee reminded me I was old. We weren't the youngest people there but we were definitely not the oldest people there. We got home really late and the next morning I was reminded of why I don't go out very often. Gia was up at 7:30. I have to admit that as much fun as I had, at one point, after midnight, I thought about how I should be sleeping and how I'd never get those hours back. Two weekends in a row I partied like a rock star and now I'm hanging it up. I feel old. Then again, when Nico or the twins were two, Leo and I never went out so maybe it is just that I forgot that going out and raising toddlers don't really mix well (C.D., I will make an exception to come see you sing).

A highlight of this weekend would definitely have to be that my days of watching a half-screen TV are OVER! We finally bought a TV stand and Leo worked all weekend on putting it together and today, we are watching a full screen TV. He also did laundry all weekend. I love when he gets the "helping bug" because I benefit greatly. Yay for the small things!

We went to my mom and dad's yesterday. As lovely as spending time with my whole family was, it was yesterday that the two sour notes hit. First, I am livid at how we are spending money to get rid of mice, bees, and ants and we have them worse than ever. Well, not mice, I don't think anymore (I hope I didn't just jinx it) but bees, ants and two nights ago, I was in a battle with a mosquito that after I turned the lights off to go to bed, kept buzzing around the TV. Leo slept through me trying to swat it without hitting the TV and if curse words could have killed it, it would be dead but since they don't, I did not win. I still don't know where it is. I already talked about the bees and yesterday, there were ants everywhere. I keep waiting for Leo to get fed up enough to yell at Orkin for not taking care of the problems we hired them for and demand a refund but he shockingly remains patient (or disinterested). I am not a good demander and I hate confrontation.

Then, as I was trying to hurry everyone up to go to my parents' house, I stepped in dog crap. I would be more lady-like but I am REALLY mad about this. Let me again explain why. I do not own a dog. Part of what is nice about not having a dog is that I should not have to worry about any of us stepping in dog crap that we have not taken the time to pick up. What's worse is that I had to take the time to go change my shoes and clean off the ones I was wearing so it made us all late to my mom's. Let me say that I know that since I live on one of the busier streets in our subdivision, I know a lot of dogs walk by my house and almost all of the owners pick up after them. I know a boxer and a large yellow dog with a black face that could be the culprits. There have been several times that I have banged on my window like a crazy person after the yellow dog has roamed the neighborhood and popped a squat about to do her business on my lawn. I am about ready to catch one of them in the act and take one of Gia's dirty diapers and leave it on their lawn and see how they feel seeing crap on their lawn that doesn't belong to them. I mean...am I the only one that thinks that is rude?

Since it is Spring Break and we aren't going anywhere, I thought it would be great if we spent some quality time together as a family. Are you laughing at the notion? You should be. We played Scrabble last night and I honestly hate the game now. I'll never look at the game the same again. To give you an idea of how it went, I had to start subtracting points from one kid to give to another each time he/she said something mean or hit the other person. Leo and I ended up arguing because he was taking too long during turns and I wanted to go to bed from being up so late the night before. At one point, Nico, whose knee is bothering him again, ended up on the couch and was able to rest it a good half hour and still not miss his turn. It was a great time for all.

It's only 8:00am and already I heard, "What are we doing today?" and "Can I call someone?"